The 16th Annual Sally Beauty Best Tressed Survey, which takes a look back at 2009’s best and worst celebrity hairstyles, came out last month.

Commissioned by Sally Beauty Supply and conducted by MarketTools, the survey polled 1,000 American women during two days in mid-December.

The best hairstyles? Jennifer Aniston and George Clooney. The worst? Lady Gaga and Lil’ Wayne.

Participants were also asked about their own styling habits, and among the fascinating results:

Forty-five percent have more than 10 beauty products in their bathrooms.

Thirty-two percent spend an average of 10 minutes on their hair every day.

Thirty-one percent wash their hair every other day.

More than 55% work out without makeup.

FYI, we’ll be rotating our Wednesday Update, and each of our three Beauty Store Business editors will take a turn—just as we now do in print with our Viewpoint. (My blog streak ends here at 120 consecutive Wednesdays … move over, Cal Ripken Jr.!) Look for Manyesha Batist next Wednesday to be followed by Shelley Moench-Kelly March 10.

See you March 17,
Marc

Where can you find innovative and emerging beauty products to make your high-end inventory distinctive? Owners and managers of leading beauty stores will tell you at the semiannual EX•TRACTS shows, a division of the New York International Gift Fair, in New York City.

The most recent edition took place Jan. 30-Feb. 4. (The next edition will take place Aug. 15-19.) And, if you weren’t at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for it, you need to check out these award-winning items selected by a panel of trade and consumer editors from more than 100 entries:

BEST OF SHOW: Shades of Dusk from Joya. It’s a natural, solid perfume that captures romance and rituals throughout the ages in mythic amulets containing fragrances reminiscent of classical aphrodisiacs.

BATH & BODY: Botanika Body Essence Buffer from DayNa Decker. It has fine pumice lava crystals that gently remove dead skin cells while rejuvenating skin regeneration, and meadowfoam seed oil to prevent moisture loss.

BEAUTY ACCESSORY: Life’s A Beach Travel Kit from J.R. Watkins Naturals. It features aloe and green tea shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion, and a signature wash cloth in a zippered travel pouch.

COSMETIC & FRAGRANCE: Decorative Diffuser Set from Fruits & Passion. It’s a perfumed oil diffuser featuring a birchwood flower design with a ceramic base.

NATURAL/ORGANIC: Season Sampler from Sapothecary. It’s a handmade, Nepalese box with four soaps made with essential rosemary, barley grass oil, lavender peppermint oil, spruce oil and orange cinnamon clove oil representing the four seasons.

PACKAGING: The black, cut-glass tube with embossed Votivo seal featured in the two-piece Dalian Collection from Votivo.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

Lake Forest, California-based Pacific World Corp.—with its Nailene and Fing’rs brands—has announced the acquisition of Aliso Viejo, California-based Woodward Laboratories—with its Mycocide NS antifungal brand, HandClens brand, and Dr. G’s nail and skin treatments.

Woodward Laboratories manufactures leading antimicrobial germ-killing skincare products that provide a healthier way of living, and uses its patented proprietary delivery systems in its footcare, nailcare and handcare products.

Specifically, Dr. G’s has a strong heritage in the professional beauty channel, and it will continue to provide additional future opportunities for growth, say Pacific World officials.

HandClens is a patented, alcohol-free, instant hand-sanitizing foam that’s sold to institutional outlets, including schools, correctional institutions and food-service establishments.

Mycocide NS antifungal brand is a big seller in foot care that’s sold at independent pharmacies and mass, drug and retail chains nationwide.

“We are confident that this acquisition will continue to enable us to move toward our goal of being the market leader in total nail care, while additionally giving us a strong entry-level product into the footcare section of our retailers,” says Joe Fracassi, Pacific World president. “With the strong consumer insights and category management available through Pacific World, we look forward to bringing this process forward with the new products available to us through this acquisition.”

Ken Gerenraich, DPM, founder and former CEO of Woodward Laboratories, will remain involved as chief science officer at Pacific World, and will continue to provide his expert medical insights in the areas of scientific affairs and product development.

“After devoting 18 years of my life to building Woodward Laboratories, it gives me great pleasure to know that our brands and technologies will continue to thrive under the professional management of Pacific World,” states Dr. Gerenraich.

In addition to its Nailene and Fing’rs brands, Pacific World offers artificial nails and artificial eyelashes under license from Revlon, and is the exclusive U.S. business partner with Union Swiss for the Bio Oil Skin Care brand.

Four footnotes here from me:

As a Type 2 diabetic with many diabetic friends, there’s another great line here in the deal too: the Diabetic Basics brand.

This is a great move for Pacific World. It further increases the supplier’s value to retailers.

The two companies aren’t too far away from each other.

And this announcement was made on the Thursday before the start of the International Salon & Spa Expo in Long Beach, California. I have never been to a major salon trade show where so many people have approached me talking about a beauty-products company they want to buy or sell. We’ll see a lot more M&A activity in 2010.

See you next Wednesday,
Marc

I’m really glad to see multicultural haircare industry pioneer Cornell McBride Sr., CEO and founder of McBride Research Laboratory, supplier of the highly successful Design Essentials Salon System, announce last Thursday that the new president of the family-owned, multimillion-dollar business is … his son: Cornell McBride Jr. There’s no sellout in Decatur, Georgia, of an African-American-owned company to a large multinational or a private-equity firm.

And the move—I’m happy to report—was per the long-term plan developed for the manufacturer by McBride Sr. “As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Design Essentials brand, I think about all of the relationships that were created and cultivated as we built this company—and it has truly been a collective family effort,” he explains. “From the beginning, I envisioned a company that I could grow with my family, and over time it has been an honor to see all of my children join the management team and help expand the McBride legacy. It is a tremendous pleasure to now pass the torch to Cornell McBride Jr.”

For those who don’t follow the multicultural sector of the professional beauty biz, today MRL; its line of 40-plus premium haircare products with a natural balance of organic ingredients, vitamins and proteins; and its educational program have an impressive presence globally. Recently, the company provided the style team for the second season of SUNDAY BEST, a gospel singing-competition TV show on BET.

McBride Jr. has served the company for 18 years. In his previous position as general manager, he has led day-to-day operations and strategic direction. Under his guidance, MRL expanded into international markets, including the Caribbean, France, Portugal and Amsterdam.

“I have worked for my father’s businesses in one capacity or another since I was 8 years old,” says McBride Jr. “It is a blessing to have a father, a mentor and a role model, and I have big footsteps to fill as I seek to measure up to his character. We are not the only father-and-son team at McBride Research Laboratory. Many of our distributors have also built family companies, and that’s what it is all about: creating a legacy and setting an example for your children to follow.”

See you next Wednesday,
Marc